Walkable cities aren’t just for long summer strolls—they’re also practical, making it easier to reach a bodega, a pharmacy, or a farmers market.
However, some of the most walkable U.S. cities are also some of the most expensive.
Take New York City, perhaps the most walkable of all U.S. cities. Its median home list price is $1.65 million. For a tad less, at $1.4 million, you could afford the median list price in Cambridge, MA, another most walkable city.
If your taste leans tropical, consider Miami, where the median home list price is $685,000. On the West Coast, the pedestrian-friendly streets of West Hollywood or Beverly Hills are nice—if you can drop $1.3 million or $5.3 million, respectively, on the median-priced home.
It’s no wonder why they’re so pricey. Walkable cities promote health, foster neighborly interaction, and reduce reliance on cars—all adding to a community’s sustainability and general vibes. In the 2020s, these are all real estate premiums—and some of that is reflected in home prices.
That’s where Realtor.com® decided to dig into the data. Surely, there must be walkable cities that are on the more affordable side of the balance. And there are.
When we combined Realtor.com listing data with details from Local Logic, a data clearinghouse for neighborhood analytics, we were able to identify several cities where the walkability ranks high and homes cost less than the national average. We focused on locations with a June median list price below $445,000 and a median list price per square foot below $233, the national medians. These locations had to have at least 30 active listings for the month, and we limited it to one city per state to ensure geographic diversity.
The locations span from the streets of Philadelphia, overflowing with U.S. history, to areas abutting New Orleans and Milwaukee.
One of the undeniable trends is the prominence of older cities in the Northeast. These areas are known for dense urban environments, a characteristic that springs from their historical contexts. They’re naturally more walkable because they were designed before cars transformed daily life from one that required a densely housed and nearby workforce, to one that accommodated commuters living in far-flung suburbs.
Here’s where homebuyers looking for a walkable lifestyle can find homes at or below the national median list price.
1. East Orange, NJ
Median list price: $421,000 (5% below the national median)
June active listings: 82
Population: 68,000
East Orange, a 4-square-mile city in Essex County, is compact, urban, and an hour away from Manhattan. Its pedestrian-friendly streets are lined with trees, and it’s dotted with parks and community spaces.
The city’s proximity to Newark, NJ, and New York City and its relatively affordable real estate are appealing to homebuyers who commute to work.
“I don’t want to have more than an hour commute, door to door.”
That’s what Marsha Bowen Washington, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Realty in Livingston, NJ, hears from many of her clients.
“I get that a lot,” she says. “From East Orange, you can get into Penn Station—34th Street—within about 25 minutes.”
The typical home here, according to Bowen Washington, is a three-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom with features that might come as a surprise for being so close to Manhattan.
“Very few homes don’t have a yard in East Orange. Most of them have a front yard and a backyard,” she says. As for parking, “most of them would have at least a driveway.”
2. Philadelphia, PA
Median list price: $289,000 (35% below the national median)
June active listings: 4126
Population: 1,600,000
Philadelphia, the largest city in Pennsylvania and the largest city on our list by far, has a grid layout and an extensive public transit system.
Historical sites and vibrant neighborhoods like Center City and Old City offer plenty for the city dweller on the go. The area is also filled with historic homes and townhouses.
“Philly is a major metro market, smack-dab, right in between Washington, DC, and New York City. But the wonderful thing about it: It’s a tight, compact city with a ton of energy, and there’s a really vibrant look and feel, and it’s all centered around the walkability in the city,” says Jim Roche, CEO of Rarity Real Estate in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia is known to locals as a “city of neighborhoods,” and each one has a different character, Roche says.
Two stick out to him: Fishtown and East Passyunk, and not just because of their funky names.
“Fishtown is a big, booming area,” he says, noting its “America’s hottest new neighbhorhood” designation from Forbes magazine in 2018. “It’s filled with a ton of shops, James Beard Award restaurants, all right there.”
East Passyunk is known for a row of top-tier restaurants, practically stacked on top of one another along East Passyunk Avenue, he adds.
Compared with nearby metros, Philadelphia homes are significantly less expensive.
3. Mount Vernon, NY
Median list price: $329,000 (26% below the national median)
June active listings: 70
Population: 72,000
Mount Vernon, about an hour north of Manhattan, north of the Bronx, and just east of Yonkers, offers affordable single-family homes and a reasonable commute into New York City.
This city in Westchester County is known for its small-town charm, well-maintained streets, and a historic urban core that thrives on foot traffic.
It’s just over 30 minutes by train from New York City, and with lots of accessible public transportation options, it’s even more well-connected for pedestrians.
4. Berwyn, IL
Median list price: $350,000 (21% below the national median)
June active listings: 49
Population: 57,000
Just 21 minutes west of Chicago, the Second City suburb of Berwyn is a highly walkable city with affordable bungalows and Victorian homes.
Berwyn saddles the famous Old Route 66 and even has a Berwyn Route 66 Museum dedicated to it.
5. Baltimore, MD
Median list price: $224,900 (49% below the national median)
June active listings: 1913
Population: 570,000
Baltimore is well-known for historic districts such as Fells Point, the Inner Harbor (with waterfront walkways), and Pigtown (home of the Orioles‘ Camden Yards).
The city’s green spaces and parks, including Patterson Park, beckon outdoor activities and walking. And the median home list price in Baltimore is about half of the national figure. However, the wide diversity of neighborhoods means that some areas are far more expensive while other areas are economically depressed.
6. Hamtramck, MI
Median list price: $162,500 (63% below the national median)
June active listings: 35
Population: 27,842
Hamtramck is one of two small municipalities that make up a true enclave, wherein they exist as an island within the city of Detroit. Located five miles north of the city’s downtown, Hamtramck is culturally diverse and one of the most densely populated cities in Michigan.
“It’s a very walkable community with predominantly Middle Eastern, family-oriented neighborhoods,” says Tina Marie Alfaro of Emmanuel Realty in Detroit.
Families here are often related to other families around the corner or on the next block, after moving to the U.S. from the same place, she says. “Probably 80% of the grocery stores, the stores, shopping, and restaurants are Mediterranean or Middle Eastern.”
The homes here are often duplexes or bungalows built in the 1950s and 1960s and provide a variety of affordable options.
Unlike some neighborhoods in Detroit, properties in Hamtramck are “usually intact, and you don’t really see any abandoned homes,” Alfaro says.
The area is a balance of affordability without blight, with easy access to downtown Detroit and a vibrant, pedestrian vibe, she adds.
7. Wilmington, DE
Median list price: $329,900 (26% below the national median)
June active listings: 226
Population: 71,568
Featuring historic districts such as Market Street and the Riverfront Wilmington area, this city is designed for those on foot. And it’s possible to find a Cape Cod-style home on a corner lot for $270,000.
8. Wauwatosa, WI
Median list price: $392,450 (12% below the national median)
June active listings: 70
Population: 47,919
About a 15-minute drive west of Milwaukee is Wauwatosa, filled with a blend of historic and modern single-family homes in a walkable environment.
The city hosts regular community events such as the Tosa Farmers Market and seasonal festivals, making it appealing to families and young professionals.
9. Hartford, CT
Median list price: $249,900 (44% below the national median)
June active listings: 44
Population: 120,682
The only state capital on our list, Hartford is an affordable city filled with parks and a great restaurant scene.
It’s another city with historic districts and attractions, including the Mark Twain House. Bushnell Park and Colt Park offer walkable green spaces, and a dense core ensures most amenities are within walking distance.
10. Gretna, LA
Median list price: $284,900 (36% below the national median)
June active listings: 75
Population: 17,640
Just south of New Orleans, across the Mississippi River, is Gretna in Jefferson Parish. Anyone who’s visited New Orleans knows it’s a pedestrian-focused layout, as it’s one of the oldest U.S. cities. For that reason, it’s rich with culture and history.